https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2305576/space-force-awards-national-security-space-launch-phase-2-launch-service-contra/ [August 7, 2020]Concurrent with this announcement, the SMC Launch Enterprise, in collaboration with the NRO, will order the first three missions assigned under Phase 2. ULA has been assigned USSF-51 and USSF-106 scheduled for launch in the second quarter fiscal year 2022 and fourth quarter fiscal year 2022, respectively. SpaceX has been assigned USSF-67, scheduled for launch in fourth quarter fiscal year 2022. Future launch services will be placed on subsequent Task Orders by mission and will be publicly announced upon issuance. Task orders for the launch service support and launch service contracts will be issued to ULA for $337 million and SpaceX for $316 million for launch services to meet fiscal year 2022 launch dates.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/08/07/ula-spacex-win-landmark-launch-agreements-with-pentagon/ [August 7, 2020]QuoteThe Pentagon also announced Friday the first three firm-fixed-price launch contracts awarded by the U.S. Space Force under the NSSL program’s Phase 2 agreements.Two of those missions, designated USSF-51 and USSF-106, were awarded to ULA for launches in the the first quarter and third quarter of calendar year 2022. SpaceX won a task order to launch the USSF-67 mission in the third quarter of calendar year 2022.ULA received $337 million in the task orders announced Friday, while SpaceX was awarded $316 million.If ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket, which scheduled to debut in 2021, is not certified for the national security missions in 2022, ULA could offer an Atlas 5 rocket — with its Russian-made engine — as an alternative for the USSF-51 and USSF-106 missions.
The Pentagon also announced Friday the first three firm-fixed-price launch contracts awarded by the U.S. Space Force under the NSSL program’s Phase 2 agreements.Two of those missions, designated USSF-51 and USSF-106, were awarded to ULA for launches in the the first quarter and third quarter of calendar year 2022. SpaceX won a task order to launch the USSF-67 mission in the third quarter of calendar year 2022.ULA received $337 million in the task orders announced Friday, while SpaceX was awarded $316 million.If ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket, which scheduled to debut in 2021, is not certified for the national security missions in 2022, ULA could offer an Atlas 5 rocket — with its Russian-made engine — as an alternative for the USSF-51 and USSF-106 missions.
https://spacenews.com/with-ulas-new-rocket-vulcan-behind-schedule-space-force-agrees-to-let-atlas-5-fill-in/ [May 20, 2021]QuoteThat mission, known as USSF-51, was awarded to ULA in August 2020 and is scheduled to launch in late 2022. The company had bid its newly developed Vulcan to fly that mission but the vehicle is not going to be ready on time. As a result, the Space Force agreed to allow ULA to launch USSF-51 on the company’s legacy vehicle the Atlas 5.ULA on Aug. 7 received a $337 million contract to launch USSF-51 and USSF-106, scheduled for late 2022 and mid 2023, respectively....“ULA proposed changing USSF-51 from a Vulcan Centaur to an Atlas by submitting a formal letter of request to the U.S. Space Force, and they agreed with the merits of these benefits,” said ULA. “This change allows for ULA’s first two Vulcan Centaur missions, which are for commercial customers, to launch when they are ready and not impact the Space Force’s mission.”[Col. Robert Bongiovi, director of the Space and Missile Systems Center’s launch enterprise] said the Space Force launch enterprise has “assessed the launch vehicle configuration change to an Atlas 5 launch vehicle as low risk and a viable solution. The first NSSL Vulcan mission remains scheduled for early 2023.”https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/05/23/falcon-heavys-first-national-security-launch-slips-to-october/ [May 23, 2021]QuoteThe Vulcan Centaur’s first national security launch is now scheduled for early 2023 with the USSF-106 mission, Bongiovi said Wednesday. That flight will follow two certification launches of the Vulcan Centaur rocket carrying commercial payloads.
That mission, known as USSF-51, was awarded to ULA in August 2020 and is scheduled to launch in late 2022. The company had bid its newly developed Vulcan to fly that mission but the vehicle is not going to be ready on time. As a result, the Space Force agreed to allow ULA to launch USSF-51 on the company’s legacy vehicle the Atlas 5.ULA on Aug. 7 received a $337 million contract to launch USSF-51 and USSF-106, scheduled for late 2022 and mid 2023, respectively....“ULA proposed changing USSF-51 from a Vulcan Centaur to an Atlas by submitting a formal letter of request to the U.S. Space Force, and they agreed with the merits of these benefits,” said ULA. “This change allows for ULA’s first two Vulcan Centaur missions, which are for commercial customers, to launch when they are ready and not impact the Space Force’s mission.”[Col. Robert Bongiovi, director of the Space and Missile Systems Center’s launch enterprise] said the Space Force launch enterprise has “assessed the launch vehicle configuration change to an Atlas 5 launch vehicle as low risk and a viable solution. The first NSSL Vulcan mission remains scheduled for early 2023.”
The Vulcan Centaur’s first national security launch is now scheduled for early 2023 with the USSF-106 mission, Bongiovi said Wednesday. That flight will follow two certification launches of the Vulcan Centaur rocket carrying commercial payloads.
What is the payload aboard USSF-51?FY Q2 2022 = CY Q1 2022 (Federal Government Fiscal Year, Chronological Year)Quote from: gongora on 08/07/2020 09:33 pmhttps://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2305576/space-force-awards-national-security-space-launch-phase-2-launch-service-contra/Concurrent with this announcement, the SMC Launch Enterprise, in collaboration with the NRO, will order the first three missions assigned under Phase 2. ULA has been assigned USSF-51 and USSF-106 scheduled for launch in the second quarter fiscal year 2022 and fourth quarter fiscal year 2022, respectively. SpaceX has been assigned USSF-67, scheduled for launch in fourth quarter fiscal year 2022. Future launch services will be placed on subsequent Task Orders by mission and will be publicly announced upon issuance. Task orders for the launch service support and launch service contracts will be issued to ULA for $337 million and SpaceX for $316 million for launch services to meet fiscal year 2022 launch dates.
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2305576/space-force-awards-national-security-space-launch-phase-2-launch-service-contra/Concurrent with this announcement, the SMC Launch Enterprise, in collaboration with the NRO, will order the first three missions assigned under Phase 2. ULA has been assigned USSF-51 and USSF-106 scheduled for launch in the second quarter fiscal year 2022 and fourth quarter fiscal year 2022, respectively. SpaceX has been assigned USSF-67, scheduled for launch in fourth quarter fiscal year 2022. Future launch services will be placed on subsequent Task Orders by mission and will be publicly announced upon issuance. Task orders for the launch service support and launch service contracts will be issued to ULA for $337 million and SpaceX for $316 million for launch services to meet fiscal year 2022 launch dates.
possible 501 with OTV-7 ?
Quote from: Jester on 07/27/2022 12:49 pmpossible 501 with OTV-7 ?Anything is possible. If the USSF-51 satellite isn't launched during the remaining months of this year aboard an Atlas V due to potential undisclosed readiness issues, then USSF-51 could be launched atop the Vulcan rocket after all as originally planned.
Quote from: Vahe231991 on 07/27/2022 02:32 pmQuote from: Jester on 07/27/2022 12:49 pmpossible 501 with OTV-7 ?Anything is possible. If the USSF-51 satellite isn't launched during the remaining months of this year aboard an Atlas V due to potential undisclosed readiness issues, then USSF-51 could be launched atop the Vulcan rocket after all as originally planned.It seems that USSF policy is to require a new launcher to fly two successful orbital launches before a USSF payload is flown. USSF-51 was originally supposed to fly on the third Vulcan flight, after Astrobotics Peregrine and Sierra Nevada's SNC Demo-1. But both of these seem to be slipping, so if USSF adheres to its policy, ULA will need to find two new payloads to fly on Vulcan before USSF-51 can fly on Vulcan, or USS-51 will need to wait even longer. Meanwhile, there is already an Atlas V allocated for this mission.
Quote from: Jester on 07/27/2022 12:49 pmpossible 501 with OTV-7 ?The two OTVs are USAF. This is an NRO mission.Unless, a hypothetical OTV-7 is a dedicated NRO reconnaissance mission? Some interesting possibilities there. Example: Use OTVs generous delta-v and aerodynamic body to dip (deeper?) into the thermosphere for extremely high resolution imagery. 4 inches/10 cm? Diffraction limited because the imagery has an extremely short exposure time (like the old astronomy dodge around seeing, speckle interferometry)? Like GAMBIT but 21st century and much better.Also would be awesome if both vehicles were orbiting simultaneously.
I’ve always wondered if there was any particular reason why they shouldn’t be both in orbit especially with the long mission lengths now.
Example: Use OTVs generous delta-v and aerodynamic body to dip (deeper?) into the thermosphere for extremely high resolution imagery. 4 inches/10 cm? Diffraction limited because the imagery has an extremely short exposure time (like the old astronomy dodge around seeing, speckle interferometry)? Like GAMBIT but 21st century and much better.Also would be awesome if both vehicles were orbiting simultaneously.
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 07/27/2022 05:44 pmExample: Use OTVs generous delta-v and aerodynamic body to dip (deeper?) into the thermosphere for extremely high resolution imagery. 4 inches/10 cm? Diffraction limited because the imagery has an extremely short exposure time (like the old astronomy dodge around seeing, speckle interferometry)? Like GAMBIT but 21st century and much better.How? The payload bay is open and solar array is on an arm.It only can only carry 500lb including attach hardware.
Example: Use OTVs generous delta-v and aerodynamic body to dip (deeper?) into the thermosphere for extremely high resolution imagery. 4 inches/10 cm? Diffraction limited because the imagery has an extremely short exposure time (like the old astronomy dodge around seeing, speckle interferometry)? Like GAMBIT but 21st century and much better.
There appears to be a launch opportunity at SLC-41 this autumn. We'll see if USSF-51 can take advantage of it.Eastern Range SLC-41:2022August 4 SBIRS GEO-6NET Sept 15 SES-20 & 21"October" launch opportunity"November" launch opportunityDecember 8 CFTDecember PeregrineQ4 USSF-512023late March ViaSat-3 EMEA
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/5055QuoteUSSF-51Launch TimeNET December, 2022Launcher was switched from Vulcan Centaur to Atlas V at ULA’s request. Atlas V config is currently TBD....RocketAtlas V 551
USSF-51Launch TimeNET December, 2022Launcher was switched from Vulcan Centaur to Atlas V at ULA’s request. Atlas V config is currently TBD....RocketAtlas V 551
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 09/04/2022 04:36 pmQuote from: TJL on 09/03/2022 10:51 pmWas the booster AV# determined for this flight yet?Read up-thread.We have no news of the launch vehicle delivery.The first stage and a single engine Centaur on-site could have been re-purposed from a delayed payload's launch.Thus my speculation that the first stage delivered for Starliner CFT has been re-purposed for this launch.IDK about the Centaur. IIRC, the "AV" designation derives from the Centaur. So, the AV designation would not be AV-085?[SES-20/21] is AV-099JPSS is AV-098Crew is AV-085USSF-51 is AV-101As usual, when more than a few months out, they can change.
Quote from: TJL on 09/03/2022 10:51 pmWas the booster AV# determined for this flight yet?Read up-thread.We have no news of the launch vehicle delivery.The first stage and a single engine Centaur on-site could have been re-purposed from a delayed payload's launch.Thus my speculation that the first stage delivered for Starliner CFT has been re-purposed for this launch.IDK about the Centaur. IIRC, the "AV" designation derives from the Centaur. So, the AV designation would not be AV-085?
Was the booster AV# determined for this flight yet?
https://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.htmlQuoteATLAS V & VULCANUpcoming Atlas V launches include the first crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the space station in February TBD. Vulcan will use the same launch pad when it flies. [October 8 update]
ATLAS V & VULCANUpcoming Atlas V launches include the first crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the space station in February TBD. Vulcan will use the same launch pad when it flies. [October 8 update]
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 10/10/2022 10:37 pmDelayed into 2023? Not listed before CFT.Quote from: Salo on 10/08/2022 08:36 pmhttps://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.htmlQuoteATLAS V & VULCANUpcoming Atlas V launches include the first crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the space station in February TBD. Vulcan will use the same launch pad when it flies. [October 8 update]The USSF-51 is officially described as a classified payload, like the two satellites that will be launched aboard the last two Delta IV Heavy launches. The Atlas V will also launch the NROL-107 satellite from SLC-41, but this launch is not listed before the Starliner CFT either.
Delayed into 2023? Not listed before CFT.Quote from: Salo on 10/08/2022 08:36 pmhttps://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.htmlQuoteATLAS V & VULCANUpcoming Atlas V launches include the first crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the space station in February TBD. Vulcan will use the same launch pad when it flies. [October 8 update]
Quote from: Vahe231991 on 10/22/2022 12:05 amQuote from: zubenelgenubi on 10/10/2022 10:37 pmDelayed into 2023? Not listed before CFT.Quote from: Salo on 10/08/2022 08:36 pmhttps://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.htmlQuoteATLAS V & VULCANUpcoming Atlas V launches include the first crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the space station in February TBD. Vulcan will use the same launch pad when it flies. [October 8 update]The USSF-51 is officially described as a classified payload, like the two satellites that will be launched aboard the last two Delta IV Heavy launches. The Atlas V will also launch the NROL-107 satellite from SLC-41, but this launch is not listed before the Starliner CFT either.and your point is?
Quote from: Jim on 10/24/2022 07:30 pmQuote from: Vahe231991 on 10/22/2022 12:05 amQuote from: zubenelgenubi on 10/10/2022 10:37 pmDelayed into 2023? Not listed before CFT.Quote from: Salo on 10/08/2022 08:36 pmhttps://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.htmlQuoteATLAS V & VULCANUpcoming Atlas V launches include the first crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the space station in February TBD. Vulcan will use the same launch pad when it flies. [October 8 update]The USSF-51 is officially described as a classified payload, like the two satellites that will be launched aboard the last two Delta IV Heavy launches. The Atlas V will also launch the NROL-107 satellite from SLC-41, but this launch is not listed before the Starliner CFT either.and your point is?The Launch Viewing Guide website doesn't mention the USSF-51, which is why someone speculated that USSF-51 may be delayed to next year.
